“Straddling Languages”: Aspects of the Translational and the Transnational in the Work of Afrikaans Authors Breyten Breytenbach, Marlene van Niekerk and Antjie Krog
Abstract
This article proceeds from the vantage point that the “transnational” and the “translational” are important concepts when discussing the processes of cultural literary signification taking place under the various conditions of displacement and migration the world has witnessed throughout the course of history. The article explores the notion of “translational literature” (as defined by Waïl Hassan) as a means to mediate between different languages and to connect cultures. Translational texts foreground, perform and problematise the act of translation by “straddling” two languages in their construction and presentation. The article proceeds from the vantage point of texts written in the minor language Afrikaans, but constructed and presented in such a way that they include or reach out to other languages. The focus falls on the way in which texts by Breyten Breytenbach (Oorblyfsel/Voice Over 2009), Marlene van Niekerk (De sneeuwslaper 2009, Die sneeuslaper 2010) and Antjie Krog (Mede-wete 2014, Synapse 2014) try to straddle the divide between Afrikaans and languages such as Arabic, English, Dutch and Xhosa. It looks at the way in which these texts stage the act of translation as a way of declaring solidarity with other cultural groups, exploit the connection with other languages to revitalise Afrikaans and also demonstrate the failure of translation.
Opsomming
Hierdie artikel gaan uit van die standpunt dat die vertalende (“translational”) en die transnasionale belangrike konsepte is wanneer daar gepraat word oor die prosesse van kulturele betekening wat plaasvind te midde van die verskillende vorme van verplasing en migrasie wat die wêreld ondergaan het in die loop van die geskiedenis. Die artikel ondersoek die begrip vertalende literatuur (“translational literature”), soos gedefinieer deur Waïl Hassan, as ’n manier waarop daar gemedieer kan word tussen tale en waardeur kulture met mekaar verbind kan word. Die artikel gaan uit van die vertrekpunt van tekste wat geskryf is in die minderheidstaal Afrikaans, maar op so ’n manier gekonstrueer en aangebied word dat hulle uitreik na ander tale of hulle insluit. Die fokus val op die manier waarop tekste deur Breyten Breytenbach (Oorblyfsel/Voice Over 2009), Marlene van Niekerk (De sneeuwslaper 2009, Die sneeuslaper 2010) en Antjie Krog (Mede-wete 2014, Synapse 2014) die gaping tussen Afrikaans en tale soos Arabies, Engels, Nederlands en Xhosa probeer oorbrug. Die artikel bespreek die manier waarop hierdie tekste die vertaalhandeling ten tonele voer ten einde solidariteit met ander kulturele groepe te verklaar, die verbande met ander tale uitbuit om sodoende Afrikaans te revitaliseer en ook die mislukking van vertaling demonstreer.
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